For anyone who needs to understand, assess or manage selective mutism, this is a comprehensive and practical manual that is grounded in behavioural psychology and anxiety management and draws on relevant research findings as well as the authors' extensive clinical experience. Now in its second edition and including new material for adolescents and adults, The Selective Mutism Resource Manual 2e provides: an up-to-date summary of literature and theory to deepen your understanding of selective mutism a wealth of ideas on assessment and management in home, school and community settings so that its relevance extends far beyond clinical practice a huge range of printable online handouts and other resources case studies and personal stories to illustrate symptoms and demonstrate the importance of tailored interventions. This book is essential reading for people who have selective mutism as well as for the clinicians, therapists, educators, caseworkers and families who support them.
Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Foreword -- Preface -- Authors' acknowledgements -- List of tables -- List of figures -- List of boxes -- List of online resources -- Part 1 Understanding Selective Mutism -- Chapter 1 Frequently asked questions about selective mutism -- Chapter 2 A holistic view of selective mutism -- Part 2 Guidelines for Identification and Assessment -- Chapter 3 Making a diagnosis: what we need to know and why -- Chapter 4 The core assessment: initial information gathering -- Chapter 5 Meeting and involving the child or young person -- Chapter 6 The extended assessment: further information gathering -- Chapter 7 Moving from assessment to management -- Part 3 Management -- Chapter 8 Ensuring an anxiety-free environment: the starting point for home and school -- Chapter 9 Facing fears: at home and in the community -- Chapter 10 Facing fears in educational settings -- Chapter 11 Making successful transitions -- Part 4 Reflective Practice: Learning from Experience -- Chapter 12 Troubleshooting: why isn't it working? -- Chapter 13 When it is more than selective mutism -- Chapter 14 Examples of interventions -- Chapter 15 Learning from people who have experienced selective mutism -- Index
Often described as 'social phobia's cousin' and misdiagnosed as autism, selective mutism is a debilitating fear of speaking in some situations experienced by some children. The disorder usually presents in children before the age of five, but it may not be recognized until the child starts school. When requested to speak, children with selective mutism often look down, blush, or otherwise express anxiety that disrupts their engagement with people and activities. Selective mutism is related to social anxiety and social phobia, and more than 90 percent of children with selective mutism also manifest symptoms of one of these problems. This book is the first available for parents of children with selective mutism. It offers a broad overview of the condition and reviews the diagnostic criteria for the disorder. The book details a plan you can use to coordinate professional treatment of your child's disorder. It also explains the steps you can take on your own to encourage your child to speak comfortably in school and in his or her peer group. All of the book's strategies employ a gradual, 'stepladder' approach. The techniques gently encourage children to speak more, while at the same time helping them feel safe and supported. Angela E. McHolm, Ph.D., is director of the Selective Mutism Service at McMaster Children's Hospital in Hamilton, ON. The Selective Mutism Service offers outpatient psychiatric consultation to families and professionals such as school personnel, speech and language pathologists, and mental health clinicians who support children with selective mutism. She is assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON.
Treatment for Children with Selective Mutism outlines the sequence and essential elements to guide clinicians through a comprehensive, integrated program for young children who display symptoms of SM.
Discusses selective mutism, explaining how those suffering from the disorder experience intense fear and panic in social situations, and offers suggestions for how parents and educators can help those afflicted.
Selective Mutism: A Guide for Therapists, Educators, and Parents provides an effective, research-based behavioral intervention plan for the successful treatment of Selective Mutism. Based on years of clinical experience and expertise, author Dr. Aimee Kotrba provides not only assessment and treatment information, but also case examples, easy-to-implement workbook sheets, and informative handouts. Dr. Kotrba is an advocate of team treatment - parents, schools, and mental health professionals working together to intervene with selective mutism -- and this book provides intervention strategies for all team members, as well as a comprehensive treatment plan that can be individualized to any child. The techniques included emphasize a gradual, stepwise approach to increased speech, as well as fun and engaging activities that can be used at each step of treatment. Tips for engaging and motivating children and teens are included to improve treatment outcomes.
When outgoing Ryan meets Daniel, a boy who is too afraid to talk in school or other places outside of his home, he befriends the silent boy, defending him in school to the other children. Their friendship grows, and Daniel feels comfortable enough to talk to his new friend. Ryan's tendency to 'talk too much' enables him to help Daniel in the classroom, and he hopes for the day when his friend will be able to talk in school so that the other children may get to know the 'real' Daniel. In the meantime, he is willing to continue to be a friend to Daniel until that day. This beautifully illustrated story book is for children with severe shyness, social anxiety or selective mutism to see that they can make a friend like Ryan. It is also a helpful tool for friends of children like Daniel to understand why these children are unable to talk in certain settings.The theme - of accepting others who are different while trying to emphasise with them - is a universal one, and therefore this book may be enjoyed by all children aged from 4 to 8. While the story should not be read to the class while the child is present or without his or her permission, this book is an invaluable tool for teachers trying to understand selective mutism, and wanting to explain it to their students. For comprehensive advice and information on selective mutism, please see "The Selective Mutism Resource Manual" (Speechmark, 2001). BMA Medical Book Competition Winner Highly Commended in the BMA Patient Information Awards (Printed Materials), "My Friend Daniel Doesn't Talk" really impressed the judges: 'This leaflet has been written by a parent of a child with selective mutism who has written numerous articles on the subject'.'It is written for children to help explain some of the issues around children who 'don't talk' and has been beautifully produced and introduces a sensitive topic via a lovely story about friendship which is a great way to engage with children and inform them about a subject without making it 'an issue' and risk stigmatising a child even more...I loved the illustrations and the characters were portrayed with a gentleness and sensitivity which made the story very likeable. The humour in the story is subtle and effective and unlike many 'stories with a message' written for children, this book is a pleasurable read in its own right, and stands up as a lovely story book, but with the added bonus of including the universal theme of 'being different' and in particular providing a basic explanation for selective mutism. I really loved this book'.'What really came through, is that it was written with real thought, care and from someone who really understands and empathises with the subject matter. Well done!'.
Drawing from their respective experiences as a clinician who has treated hundreds of children with selective mutism and a parent of a child with selective mutism, authors Dr. Aimee Kotrba and Shari J. Saffer provide clear strategies to increase speaking and reduce anxiety.
An eye-opening and enlightening collection of stories from people living with Selective Mutism (SM), this book provides a much-needed platform for people with SM to share experiences of the condition in their own words. Exploring all aspects of SM, from symptoms and diagnostic criteria, to triggers and the consequences of being psychologically unable to speak, the stories in this book dispel the myths around this often misunderstood condition. Far from refusing to talk, or choosing not to, the contributors offer genuine insights into why they simply cannot speak in certain situations or in front of certain people. Children, teens and adults from the UK and US share experiences of feeling isolated, struggling at school, and finding ways to communicate. Letting people with SM know that they are not alone with the condition, the book will also help family, friends and professionals to understand what it is like to live with SM.
The Selective Mutism Treatment Guide: Manuals for Parents, Teachers, and Therapists, second edition has arrived! It is double the size of the first edition and it includes new sections on treating older children and teens, the use of technology in treating SM with a list of useful apps, raising a shy child, treating SM in the clinic setting, and much more. It includes beautiful and inspiring case studies of children and teens overcoming SM using this approach. It is an innovative, effective approach to the treatment of selective mutism, which is based both on rich clinical experience helping hundreds of children overcome SM, and on evidence based understanding of how selective mutism best treated. It includes separate manuals written for parents, school or kindergarten staff, and therapists, each with concrete, effective, tried and tested ways of helping the child with selective mutism. It is designed to be a positive and empowering experience for the child and his family. This guide is aimed for professionals and lay people alike: For parents and relatives of children with SM it offers a valuable resource to understand the condition, with programs and tools to help the child to improve his verbal and social communication. For teachers and therapists it provides a guide to understand, and practical tools to treat the disorder. The Parents' Manual includes sections about how SM can affect your child and family, how to speak to your child about SM, how to treat SM, how to lower your child's anxiety, and how to work together with the school or kindergarten to help your child. It outlines effective interventions that parents can carry out at home and in school to help their child overcome SM and attain improved social communication skills. The Teacher's Manual includes: a description of SM and its possible causes, understanding the child with SM, how SM presents in school, an overview of how to treat SM, and a variety of interventions and programs for teachers to implement in school. There are two Therapist's Manuals - one for younger children, and the second for teens and adults, with cognitive-behavioral techniques specifically for use in treating SM. There are sections on the definition and causes of SM, methods of assessment, levels of SM, planning therapy, and detailed, step by step descriptions of the stages of therapy, including initial home-based therapy followed by school based sessions. Here are some readers' reviews of the first edition: B.W. wrote: This treatment guide is concise, easy to read, clear and an absolute gem of a book. Each word is carefully chosen and the style flows with warmth, sensitivity and intelligence. I loved the respect with which the author and Psychologist Ruth Perednik treats the reader; the manual is no less than brilliant in its' ease of explanation and significant in its power as a catalyst for change; Belief and optimism, based on the author's vast clinical experience pervaded throughout. Perednik's clearly detailed program is aimed at parents, teachers and therapists. Perednik has done a wonderful job of increasing the likelihood of successful treatment even in the absence of such ideal conditions. Perednik's apparent wholehearted belief in her approach, tools and program to unravel the knot of selective mutism, leads her to spell out the rationale and implementation of an entire program, thus enabling her readers to carry out a successful treatment without making them dependent on further training or support. Optimistic, Practical, Extremely user friendly. Engaging and inspiring.. S.B. wrote: GREAT BOOK IT WORKS GREAT QUICK RESULTS BEST IN THE FIELD HAS GREAT INTUITION IN THESE MATTERS EASY READING CLEARLY SAID TRY & SEE Duggie wrote: This gave me practical information for working with children with selective mute. I have been able to try different techniques with success. I also learned the many causes of this diagnosis.
